How to Design a Logo: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

A cool logo doesn't just consist of pictures and words, it also tells a story about your company: who you are, what you do, and what your principles are. A small piece of work has a lot to tell, and that's why designing a logo is not an easy job. Luckily, you don't have to design your logo alone. The instructions below will explain the logo design process that will make your brand successful in the marketplace.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Brainstorming

Step 1. Determine the main function of your logo

A logo represents your brand through the use of shape, typeface, color, and image. The main function of a clear logo will help you in designing.

• Get a wider introduction. If your company is new or competes in a crowded market, a strong logo will make new clients aware of your brand more quickly.
• Build consumer memory. Consumers tend to shop by what they see. Logos are easier to remember than your brand name, product name, or service. Gradually, consumers will pair the logo with your company.
• Build client trust. Maintaining client trust is important because that's part of getting other clients and keeping existing ones. A neat logo that conveys honesty and integrity will convince your clients.
• Strengthen the impression in the eyes of clients. If a client already has a good impression of your business before, you can improve this impression again by creating a logo that looks clean, smart, or simple and effective.

Step 2. Pay attention to your target market

You need to be clear about what your customers expect you to be like and build your logo's appearance from that point on to make it look appealing to them.

• A logo for a florist can be designed with a cute typeface and a bright color scheme; this design wouldn't look like a logo for an auto repair shop.

• A logo for a law firm should be one that conveys integrity and strength. The formation of the same logo is not suitable for a catering company.

  

Step 3. Decide whether to include the company name in the logo

Of course you want to create a name recognition for your company, but not necessarily your company name is suitable for inclusion in a logo design.

• Enter your company name if it's quite different from other company names, but isn't a widely known word yet. You can also use a company name if your marketing budget is small and you want your company name to be known.
• Avoid entering your company name if it's too general, too long, difficult to translate (of course, if that's a problem), or lacks personality. Avoid including your company name if you want to put your logo on products like shoes or bags.
• Think about the various uses of your logo. Imagine the smallest size you will make. If your company name is not legible when the logo is only the size of a thumb nail, then avoid using your company name.

Step 4. Follow your company's color scheme

If your company frequently uses certain colors in its communications with the general public, such as markers, advertisements, or other materials, those colors are preferably included in the logo as well.

• Consistent use of color builds familiarity. You want your customers to be able to relate your logo to your company.
• If your company uses certain colors often, people usually already create associations with those colors in their subconscious.

• If your company doesn't already have a color scheme that is often used, do a little research on color psychology theory, so you can choose the right one. For example, the color red signifies strength, passion, energy and self-confidence, but it can also signify danger.

  

Step 5. Watch for, but don't copy, successful logos

Creating a logo that resembles the logo of a company you love may seem like a good idea, but your customers will also think that you are lazy and uncreative.

• Look at the logos of other companies that share your market. Pay attention to what you like and don't like about the logos. What works and what fails. Don't get confused because you see too many logos, just 10 to 12 can give you an overview.
• A logo will be successful if it is simple, memorable, timeless, and fits well with your business. Keep that in mind when you're fiddling with the logo.

• If you're stumped for ideas, do some research on the Internet with new keywords or use a thesaurus to think more broadly.

  

• Fad picture. Sketch things around you and play with them. Write your keywords in different fonts. Notice if an idea pops up that catches your eye.

  

Step 6. Keep your logo simple

There are many limitations in designing a logo. While trying to put a lot of stuff into a logo may seem appealing, doing so will actually ruin your logo.

• Avoid using too many colors, typefaces, and overlapping images. A confusing or untidy logo will not convey a clear message.
• If there are too many visual elements in your logo, people who see it will have a hard time understanding it. They don't know what to look at or what it means.
• From a practical point of view, reproducing a simple logo will be easier and cheaper. Because your logo will appear in a variety of places, from letterhead to advertisements to bags, a simple logo will save you a lot of money.

Part 2 of 3: Testing the Design

Step 1. Create some designs

At this early stage, you may have some ideas that you want to convey in your logo design. Write them down on paper so you can see which ideas are acceptable and which are not.

Even an unacceptable design can inspire an idea or convey an element that you might want to keep in your new design

Step 2. Draw a rough sketch of the design

Use pencil and paper in the early stages of your design. Sketching is a quick and easy way to get your ideas out of your head and see them right on paper. You can assess these ideas quickly and easily.

• Blank white paper or graph paper will make a great background for your pencil sketches.
• Avoid deleting. Designing is not a linear process. Let the designs you don't like persist. These designs can convey an idea that you might be able to use later.
• Major design companies will create dozens of sketch sheets before designing on a computer. Learn from the pros and focus on your sketches.

Step 3. Show your results to several people

You'll feel moved to complete this process when you have a logo that looks like it fits. Pause. Don't forget people's ratings.

Step 4. Ask for ratings from people who belong to your target market

Show your logo design to some suitable people as your customers. You can show them several designs or choose the one you feel the most powerful.

• Ask key questions that will reveal their reaction to the logo. Interesting or not? Ugly or good? Too general or unique? Also ask them the impression and message they get from your logo, is it easy or difficult to read, matches or not with what they know about your company or industry.

  

Step 5. Don't rely too much on the opinions of family and friends

While you certainly want to have the opinion of those close to you, their comments are usually not the constructive kind.

You can ask your friends to test whether your logo is memorable or not. Have them look at your logo for a few moments, then ask them to redraw your logo. The more similar their image is to the real thing, the easier your logo will be to remember

Step 6. Make sure the logo is resizeable

Pay attention to the various uses of your logo. Your logo will be used in newspaper advertisements, in street advertisements and on your website. Your logo, small or large, should work well.

• If the logo is too detailed or the lines are too flat, those elements will get lost easily or the logo will look ugly at small sizes.
• Logos designed for use on business cards will appear broken at a larger size.

• You can test the resizing of your logo with a graphic design program like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. For hand sketches, try making a larger sketch.

  

Part 3 of 3: Finishing the Design

Step 1. Create the final draft

In the end, you have to make your logo digital. You can do this yourself or hire a professional designer.

• Study a graphic design program. The most used program is Adobe Illustrator. Inkscape is also a good program and can be downloaded for free.

  There are several books and websites that can help you learn Illustrator. Some tutoring places and campuses also open classes for this design program

• Hire a professional design service. If you already have a background in visual arts, graphic design on a computer or you're a fast learner, then maybe you can do it yourself; however, if not, the results of a professional designer will be better.

  

  • Visit the designers' websites to view their portfolios. Make sure you choose someone with experience designing logos.
  • Ask about the processing time. Depending on what stage your logo is at, maybe your logo will be revised or the designer will just digitally format the sketch that you have created. However, ask your designer how long it will take, until you get a finished product.
  • Ask about costs. This comes back again depending on your design stage. Of course it will be more expensive if you need someone to work on your logo from the first stage, than if you only need a digital sketch of your logo.
  • Check online services. There are several online design services where you can pay a predetermined fee and receive designs from several designers who want to work for you. You choose a design you like and work with that designer to finish.

Step 2. Stay open to the assessment

Once a logo is complete, you should remain open to grading.

• Use social media. If your company was previously known through social media, post a new logo to your followers on the Internet and ask their opinion.

  

• First of all, use the new logo on the website. If the customer's response to the new logo is mostly negative, it will be easier and cheaper to replace it again than when it was already printed.

  

• Ask for details. For example they say your logo is "confusing" or "hard to read", find out more details. The more information you can gather, the easier it will be to change your design.